Spring hinge



O 5, 1965 N. LEVINE 3,209,392

SPRING HINGE Filed July 26, 1963 INVENTOR.

NATHAN LEVINE ATT/ORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,209,392 SPRlNG HINGENathan Levine, Newton, Mass., assignor to Babcock-Davis Associates,1110., Boston, Mass, a corporation of New Hampshire Filed July 26, 1963,Ser. No. 297,793 5 Claims. (Cl. 16-190) This invention relates generallyto closures and improved hinge means therefor, and more particularly toclosures of the general type utilized as hatchway doors and to animproved spring hinge assembly therefor.

In the construction of certain closures it is common to provide springmeans to assist in the operation thereof. In the construction ofhatchways such spring means are particularly desirable. Hatchways arefrequently installed in a generally horizontal position, as for examplethrough floors and through flat roofs. These hatchways are generallyconstructed of sheet metal and the hatch doors frequently are ofsubstantial size. The metal doors are usually heavy and may be diflicultto lift, especially when access to the hatch is up an inclined passageas is common in the case of roof hatches. In order to attempt tocounterbalance the hatch door, which is usually hinged to the hatchframe along one edge, coiled springs have been employed in the prior artto exert an opening force on the door. In some installations it isdesired to cause the hatch door to open upon the operation of a fusiblelink in order to provide a safety vent in case of fire. In suchinstallations the spring means selected will be of sufiicient size toeither partially or fully open the hatch upon release of the fusiblehatch look.

In spring means heretofore employed for counterbalancing or assisting inthe opening of hatch doors various spring and lever combinations havebeen employed. Although these combinations have operated satisfactorilyto open the hatch doors with which they are used, the priorconstructions have frequently impinged substantially on the passagethrough the hatch opening making the passage of persons or objectstherethrough subject to damage by contact with the spring and levermeans. A spring and lever structure which operates satisfactorily toopen the hatch door but is illustrative of the problem above describedis shown in the patent to Lyons et al. No. 2,603,819 issued July 22,1952. It will be noted that in the disclosed construction both springsand levers extend substantially into the hatch opening when the door isin open condition. It will also be noted that when the door is closedthe levers and springs extend downwardly in a substantial fashion asshown in FIG. 5 of the patent. This latter condition may be hazardous ifthe hatch is normally approached from below in closed condition.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide hatchdoor spring means which will assist the opening of a hatch door whilebeing of sufficient dimension that they may be located adjacent a sidewall of the hatch thereby substantially decreasing interference with thehatchway passage itself during use and consequently minimizing injuriesor other accidents.

In the construction of the invention a hatch door of conventional designis utilized in combination with a hatch frame also of usual design. Ahinge arm is secured to the hatch door and pivoted to the hatch framewhereby the door may be rotated from a closed to an open position. Acoiled spring positioned within a telescoping spring casing is securedparallel to the hatch frame and flush thereagainst. Linkage means isemployed to operatively connect the spring means described to the hingearm whereby a satisfactory hatch door spring is provided.

It is a feature of this invention that the coiled spring is positionedadjacent the hatch wall and parallel thereto during all portions of itsoperation.

It is a further feature of this invention that the coiled spring isentirely enclosed by a telescoping casing thereby minimizing anypossible injury therefrom.

It is yet another feature of this invention that the linkage employedbetween the spring means and the hinge arm is so constructed that thelinkage connection utilized may not be accidentally caused to move pastdead center thereby causing the structure to jam.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanyingdrawing, in which the figure is a side sectional view of a portion of ahatchway showing the spring compensating device of the invention withportions thereof broken away for clarity.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description of theinvention, a partial view of a hori zontal-type hatchway is shown. Itwill be understood that the structure of the invention is suitable foruse in analogous types of closures and is not limited to closuresoperating in a normally horizontal condition. The particular hatchconstruction illustrated is typical of the type employed in roof andfloor installations where the door or cover is normally in horizontalclosed condition.

In the illustrated embodiment a hatch frame or curb 10 is shown forinstallation in the usual fashion. The frame 10 includes a flangedupstanding wall member which may be of any construction but commonly isformed of sheet metal. A door or cover 12 of conventional constructionis also provided and is initially dimensioned to abut the upper mostsurfaces of the frame 10 to normally close the passage through thehatchway. The frame 10 may be provided with conventional dependingflashing flanges 14 and the door 12 may likewise be provided withdepending peripheral flanges 16 which serve to prevent the entry ofunwanted matter into the hatchway. The door 12 may also be provided withedge seal means, as for example compressible tubular seal members 18which are initially positioned to abut cooperating surfaces of the frame10 to provide a seal against the entrance of moisture, dirt, etc.

The door 12 is hinged to the frame 10 by hinge structure including ahinge arm 20 secured to the door 12 and a hinge pivot 22 on which thearm 20 is rotatably en-- gaged, the pivot 22 being secured to the frame10.

In the illustrated embodiment the frame 10 is provided at its upperportion with a channel portion 24 which is oifset outwardly from thelower portion of the frame 10 and which is closed at its outer extremitywhile being open to the hatchway along its inner wall. Within thechannel 24 a bracket member 26 is provided which is afiixed as bywelding to the outer wall of the channel member 24. The bracket 26carries the pivot pin 22 which may be mounted therein in any suitablefashion. The bracket 26 may be constructed as two parallel wallsseparately affixed to the channel 24 or may be of alternativeconstruction, as for example U-shaped in configuration.

The arm 20 is provided with a first U-shaped portion indicated generallyat 28. At one extremity of the U portion 28 an aperture 30 is providedto receive the pivot 'pin 22. The U-shaped portion 28 is initiallyoriented with the open portion of the U facing towards the hatch door12. At the opposite extremity of the U-shaped portion 28 from the pivotpin receiving aperture 30 an integral extended attaching member 32 isformed. The arm 20 is attached to the door 12 by securing the attachingmember 32 to a depending portion 34 of the door 12 by any suitable meansas for example bolts 36. It will be obvious that by the use of at leasta pair of arms 24 and associated pivot pins 22 the door 12 may behingedly secured to the frame 10 of the hatch. By the use of theU-shaped arm construction described the hatch door may be swing throughan arc of approximately 90 to completely free the hatchway for use as isshown in phantom form in the drawing.

In order to provide spring biasing for the hatch door 12 spring meansare provided which are afiixed to the interior wall of the frame 10. Inthe illustrated embodiment, a telescoping spring holder 38 is shown. Thespring holder 38 includes an outer tubular member 40 which is open atits upper end and which receives an inner tubular member 42 which isclosed at its upper end. A coiled compression spring 44 is containedwithin the telescoping casing 38 with its upper extremity hearingagainst the closed upper wall of the inner casing 42 and with its lowerextremity bearing against the base of the outer casing 40. In theillustrated embodiment the tubular outer casing 40 rests upon an anglebracket 46 which forms its base closure and by means of which thtelescoping spring assembly is securely afiixed to the frame of thehatch. It will be noted that the outer casing 40 may alternatively beprovided with a closed bottom portion integral therewith and may bedirectly aflixed to the frame 10 as by welding etc.

It will also be noted that the spring assembly 38 is permanentlypositioned with the center line of the spring parallel to the frame 10and in the plane of rotation of the hinge arm 20 about the hinge pivot22. In this construction the spring 44 tends to force the inner casing42 upwardly thus carrying the upper portion of the inner casing 42outwardly through the open top of the outer casing 40. It will be notedthat the lower portion of the spring assembly 38 does not extend belowthe base of the frame 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spring assembly 38 is initiallypositioned in vertical alignment with the arm 20 so that the center lineof the spring and the pivot provided thereon, as heretofore described,will lie in the plane of rotation of the arm 20. A bracket 50 is afiixedto the closed upper end of the inner casing 42 and is employed to mounta pivot pin 52, above referred to, which is engaged in one end of a link54.

The arm 20 also mounts a pivot pin 56 substantially at the base of theU-shaped portion thereof. The link 54, above referred to, is providedwith apertures at each end whereby it may be engaged between the pivotpin 52 affixed to the spring assembly 38 and the pivot pin 56 providedin the arm 20. In practice it has been found most satisfactory to employa pair of links 54, one link being mounted between the bracket 50 andarm 20 at each of the cooperating side faces thereof respectively. Inthis fashion the forces exerted by the spring assembly 38 aretransmitted to both sides of the longitudinal center line of the arm 20thereby eliminating any possible turning moment about the longitudinalcenter line of the arm which might in time tend to wear the pivots 22,52 and 56 unevenly.

It will also be noted that the pivot pin 52 aflixed to the springassembly 38 is initially positioned slightly displaced toward theinterior of the hatchway from the center line of the spring 44.Likewise, the pivot pin 56 is initially positioned even furtherdisplaced toward the interior of the hatchway. This constructionprevents any possibility of the link initially travellingcounterclockwise when the door is closed from open position therebycausing the pivot pin 56 to ride over dead center with respect to thepivot pin 52 and the center lineof the spring 44 whereupon furtherclosing of the hatch cover would result in jamming of the assembly.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

The hatch frame is installed in the desired location and the door ishingedly mounted thereon by engaging the,

U-shaped arms on the door with the pivot pins affixed to the frame. Itwill be noted that two or more hinge units may be employed dependingupon the length of the hatch door.

The coiled spring in its telescoping case is rigidly secured flush withthe interior edge of the hatch frame directly below the U-shaped arm.The links 54 are engaged between the pivot 52 on the telescoping springcase and the pivot 56 on the arm. The invention is then installed inoperating condition.

The coiled spring 44 is initially selected of sufficient strength suchthat general counterbal-ancing of the hatch door will be effected. Whereit is desired to initially open the hatch door a predetermined amountwithout manual assistance, the spring may be selected with suflicientadditional strength to accomplish this result when the hatch door isunlocked.

FIG. 1 shows the invention as it appears in the hatch closed condition.In phantom lines the position of the structure of the invention is shownin the hatch open condition. It will be noted that during the openingand closing of the hatch door the telescoping spring assembly moves onlyin a straight line and does not pivot. In the illustrated embodiment thetelescoping spring assembly moves only vertically. By the use of thelink 54 the vertical opening force of the spring may be transmitted tothe arm 20 at the pivot 56. It will be noted that during opening andclosing of the door the pivot 56 describes an arcuate pat-h the radiusof which is the distance between the pivot 22 and the pivot 56.

It will further be noted that upon closing of the door the links 54 isrequired to rotate clockwise about the pivot 52 due to the particularpositioning of the pivot 52 and 56 with respect to the center line ofthe spring 44 as above described.

It is a further important feature of this invention that the hingestructure is entirely contained within the interior portion of the hatchframe and therefore is inaccessible to tampering by anyone from theexterior of the hatch.

It is an additional feature of the invention that the hinge and springstructure employed is of a sufficiently small width that hinge andspring assemblies may be positioned adjacent each other in larger hatchdoor installations to provide a multiple type construction.

Having thus described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is intended to claim all changes and modifications thereofwhich fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A spring hinge structure for use in a hatchway, said hatchwayincluding a side wall and a hatch door designed for movement from aclosed position generally normal to said side wall to an open positiongenerally parallel to said side wall comprising, a hinge arm afiixed ata first end thereof to said hatch door, said hinge arm having a secondend provided with an aperture therethrough; a pivot pin; means mountingsaid pivot pin on said hatch wall for operative engagement in saidaperture in said second end of said hinge arm; spring means including acoiled spring; means rigidly affixing said spring means to said sidewall for reciprocating movement parallel to said side wall; at least onelink having a first end and a second end for connecting said hinge armto said spring means; a first pivot pin on said hinge arm for receivingsaid first end of said at least one link; a second pivot pin on saidspring means for receiving said second end of said at least One link,and first means at said first end of said link for engaging said firstpivot pin on said hinge arm and second means at said second end of saidlink for engaging said second pivot pin on said spring means, the centerline between the said first and the said second pivot pins on said hingearm and said spring means being positioned at an angle to thelongitudinal center line of said spring means, said angle varying inmagnitude but maintaining a constant sign as said hatch door is rotatedfrom the fully closed position to the fully open p sition, wherebymovement of said spring parallel to said side wall will assist movementof said hinge arm about said pivot on said hatch Wall.

2. A spring hinge structure for use in a hatchway, said hatchwayincluding a side wall and a hatch door designed for movement from aclosed position generally normal to said side wall to an open positiongenerally parallel to said side Wall comprising, a U-shaped hinge armafiixed at a first end thereof to said hatch door, said hinge arm havinga second end provided with an aperture there through; a pivot pinmounting bracket secured to said hatch side wall; a hinge pivot pinmounted in said bracket to engage said aperture in said second end ofsaid hinge arm; spring means including a telescoping spring casingcontaining a coiled compression spring; means rigidly affixing a portionof said telescoping casing to said side wall of said hatch fortelescoping movement thereof parallel to said side wall, said springmeans being positioned on said side wall in alignment with said hingearm; first pivot means mounted on said telescoping casing at the endthereof adjacent said hinge arm; at least one link mounted at a firstend on said pivot means on said telescoping casing, and second pivotmeans attached substantially at the bottom of said U-shaped portion ofsaid hinge arm for engagement by a second end of said at least one linkwhereby movement of said spring parallel to said hatch Wall will assistrotation of said hinge arm about said hinge pivot on said hatch Wall.

3. A spring hinge structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said pivotmeans mounted on said telescoping spring casing is spaced away from saidside wall of said hatch and beyond said center line of said springmeans, and wherein said pivot means on said hinge arm for receiving saidat least one link is spaced at greater distance from said side wall andfrom said center line of said spring means than said pivot means mountedon said telescoping spring casing whereby said link will not ride overdead center when said arm is rotated from an open position substantiallyparallel to said center line of said spring to a closed positionsubstantially normal to said center line of said spring.

4. A spring hinge structure for use in a hatchway, said hatchwayincluding a side wall and a hatch door designed for movement from aclosed position generally normal to said side wall to an open positiongenerally parallel to said side wall comprising, a hinge arm including afirst U-shaped portion and a second elongated portion, said hinge armbeing affixed to said hatch door at said elongated portion and having anaperture therethrough at said U-shaped portion opposite said elongatedattaching portion thereof; a pivot pin mounting bracket secured to saidhatch side wall; a hinge pivot pin mounted in said bracket to engagesaid aperture in said U-shaped portion of said hinge arm; spring meansincluding a telescoping spring casing containing a coiled compressionspring, said telescoping spring casing comprising an outer tubularportion rigidly aflixed to said side wall of said hatch, means closingthe lower end of said outer tubular portion, and an inner tubularportion having a closed upper end; a bracket aifixed at said upperclosed end of said second tubular portion of said telescoping springcasing; first pivot means carried in said bracket for reciprocatingmovement parallel to said side wall of said hatch and in the plane ofrotation of said hinge arm about said hinge pivot pin; at least one linkmounted at a first end on said first pivot means on said telescopingcasing, and second pivot means substantially at the bottom of saidU-shaped portion of said hinge arm for engagement by a second end ofsaid at least one link whereby movement of said spring casing parallelto said hatch wall will assist rotation of said hinge arm about saidhinge pivot on said hatch wall.

5. A spring hinge structure for use in a hatchway, said hatchwayincluding a side wall and a hatch door designed for movement from aclosed position generally normal to said side wall to an open positiongenerally parallel to said side wall comprising, a hinge arm aflixed ata first end thereof to said hatch door, said hinge arm having a secondend provided with an aperture therethrough; a pivot pin mounted on saidhatch side wall for engagement with said aperture in said second end ofsaid hinge arm; spring means including a coiled spring; means rigidlyaffixing said spring means to said side wall for reciprocating movementparallel to said side wall and a link attached to the spring means by afirst pivot at one end of said link and attached to the hinge arm by asecond pivot at the other end thereof, the center line of said linkforming an angle with the center line of said spring means, said anglebeing of varying magnitude but of constant sign as said hatch door isrotated, whereby movement of said spring parallel to said hatch wallwill assist movement of said hinge arm about said pivot pin on saidhatch wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,670 5/89 Holt16-190 2,587,947 3/52 WOl-f. 2,822,568 2/58 Hosea l6l90 3,112,514 12/63Ostrom 16-490 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,320 1895 Great Britain.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

2. A SPRING HINGE STRUCTURE FOR USE IN A HATCHWAY, SAID HATCHWAYINCLUDING A SIDE WALL AND A HATCH DOOR DESIGNED FOR MOVEMENT FROM ACLOSED POSITION GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID SIDE WALL TO AN OPEN POSITIONGENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE WALL COMPRISING, A U-SHAPED HINGE ARMAFFIXED AT A FIRST END THEREOF TO SAID HATCH DOOR, SAID HINGE ARM HAVINGA SECOND END PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH; A PIVOT PINMOUNTING BRACKET SECURE TO SAID HATCH SIDE WALL; A HINGE PIVOT PINMOUNTED IN SAID BRACKET TO ENGAGE SAID APERTURE IN SAID SECOND END OFSAID HINGE ARM; SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A TELESCOPING SPRING CASINGCONTAINING A COILED COMPRESSION SPRING; MEANS RIGIDLY AFFIXING A PORTIONOF SAID TELESCOPING CASING TO SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID LATCH FORTELECOPING MOVEMENT THEREOF PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE WALL, SAID SPRINGMEANS BEING POSITIONED ON SAID SIDE WALL IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID HINGEARM; FIRST PIVOT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TELESCOPING CASING AT THE ENDTHEREOF ADJACENT SAID HINGE ARM; AT LEAST ONE LINK MOUNTED AT A FIRSTEND ON SAID PIVOT MEANS ON SAID TELESCOPING CASING, AND SECOND PIVOTMEANS ATTACHED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID U-SHAPED PORTION OFSIAD HINGE ARM FOR ENGAGEMENT BY A SECOND END OF SAID AT LEAST ONE LINKWHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID SPRING PARALLEL TO SAID HATCH WALL WILL ASSISTROTATION OF SAID HINGE ARM ABOUT SAID HINGE PIVOT ON SAID HATCH WALL.